RSF and CPJ Demand Release of French Journalists Intercepted on Madleen Aid Ship
June 9, 2025
Cambodian Journalist’s Killer Sentenced, Marking Rare Victory for Press Freedom
June 10, 2025
June 10, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed another journalist’s life, raising serious concerns over the safety of media professionals operating in the region. On June 9, 2025, Palestinian freelance photojournalist Momen Abu Alof was killed during Israeli attacks in eastern Gaza City. Abu Alof, who was accompanying an ambulance crew to evacuate the injured, died alongside three paramedics when Israeli forces targeted the area. His death brings the total number of journalists killed since the start of Israel’s military operations on Gaza in October 2023 to 227, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
Gaza authorities have accused Israel of deliberately targeting journalists to silence independent reporting on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the besieged enclave. They have called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for what they describe as systematic attacks on the press. Abu Alof’s death comes amid a period widely regarded as one of the deadliest for journalists in modern history. The unprecedented loss of media workers has sparked global outrage, with press freedom organizations demanding thorough investigations into potential violations of international law.
The high journalist casualty rate underscores the extreme dangers faced by reporters covering the Gaza conflict. Media crews have repeatedly found themselves in the line of fire while attempting to document civilian suffering, aid blockades, and military strikes. Several journalists have been killed while reporting near hospitals, refugee camps, and during humanitarian relief efforts. The Al-Ahli hospital incident last month, which killed multiple journalists, had already pushed the death toll to 226 before Abu Alof’s fatal attack.
Beyond the media, the conflict continues to devastate Gaza’s civilian population. Medical personnel, aid workers, and thousands of civilians have perished, while many others struggle to survive amid ongoing blockades and bombardments. International observers and human rights groups have expressed deep alarm at the growing humanitarian catastrophe, pressing for immediate ceasefire agreements and independent investigations into alleged war crimes.
The death of Momen Abu Alof serves as a grim reminder of the escalating risks faced by journalists in Gaza, where press freedom remains under severe assault amidst one of the world’s most intense modern conflicts.
Reference –
